Relationship between Sexual Risk Behaviours and Psychological Wellbeing of Youth in Selected CITAM Assemblies, Nairobi City County, Kenya

Sexual risk behaviours has become a global public concern among youth, with implications on their psychological wellbeing. In response, many urban churches have established youth ministries and counselling structures to address sexuality, values, and wellbeing concerns. However, important gaps remain in empirical knowledge regarding how sexual risk behaviours relate to psychological wellbeing among church-going youth in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual risk behaviours and psychological wellbeing of youth in selected assemblies of Christ Is the Answer Ministries (CITAM) in Nairobi, Kenya. The target population comprised 3,995 youths from nine CITAM assemblies in Nairobi City County, with a sample of 365youths. Stratified sampling was applied to ensure representation from various CITAM assemblies. Data were collected using Sexual Risk Behaviors Scale and the Psychological Wellbeing Scale. Descriptive statistical techniques such as mean and standard deviation scores were used to summarize the data while inferential analysis was done using correlation techniques and regression modeling, facilitated by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The findings showed that youth in the study demonstrated strong sexual self-agency and low engagement in risky sexual behaviors. Inferential tests showed that there was a significant negative relationship between sexual risk behavior and psychological wellbeing (ρ = - 0.231, p< 0.01), indicating that lower involvement in sexual risk behaviors was associated with higher levels of psychological wellbeing among the youth. It was concluded that engagement in sexual risk behaviors undermined psychological wellbeing among youth. However, the modest predictive effect of sexual risk behaviour on psychological wellbeing indicates that psychological wellbeing among church-going youth is potentially shaped by several interacting influences beyond sexuality. Interventions targeting youth wellbeing should consider contextual factors such as the role of religion.

Sexual Risk Behaviours, Psychological Wellbeing, Youth, Church, Religion

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